Wagon-jack



(NoModeL) B.E.-STEV. ON

' WAGON J No. 557,167. Patented Mar. 31, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN E. STEVENSON, OF BEDDING, CALIFORNIA.v

WAGON-JAG K.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 557,167, dated March 31,1896.

Application filed December 23, 1895- Serial No. 573,091. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN E. STEVEN- SON, residing at Redding, in thecounty of Shasta and State of California, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Wagon-Jacks, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to lifting-jacks, especially such as are for usein raising wagon and carriage axles,but also available for otherpurposes.

The object of the invention is to produce a strong and serviceable jackat small cost and which can be easily operated and will support its loadwith firmness when in adjusted position.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the lifting-jack. Fig. 2 is a verticalcentral section of the same. Fig. 3 is a broken detail section of partof the ratchet, pawl, and connections. Fig. 4 is a side elevation oflever and attachments.

A indicates the base, and B the standard or upright. These may be ofsuitable material and convenient shape, but preferably will be of woodin about the form shown, the standard being firmly secured to the basein any suitable manner.

0 indicates the head of the standard, which is rounded and perforatedfor the passage of the fulcrum-pin D. One side of the head of thestandard is provided with a curved ratchet or toothed piece E, which ispreferably made of metal and secured to the head of the wooden standardby screws or otherwise.

The lever F is preferably a wooden bar having a mortise of a size toreceive the head 0 of the standard. The end of the lever which serves asthe lifter is formed into steps G H, and these steps are shod with aniron wearplate I, which plate extends upward above the step H to preventthe passage of the lever too far under the axle of the wagon.

Within the mortise in the lever F, I pivot a pawl K on a pin or fulcrumM, which pin passes through the cheeks of the lever at the sides of themortise. The cheeks of the lever may be strengthened by metallic plate,as N, when desirable. The pawl being practically within the mortise andnear the rackbar E is in position to engage said rack-bar and hold thelever in any position to which it may be adjusted. At the same time thepawl is elfectually protected against accidental disengagement by reasonof its inolosure within the mortise.

The lower end of the pawl K extends through a hole or notch near the endof a flat spring 0, which spring is connected at the other end to thelever F by a screw, nail, or pivot P and is normally deflected from astraight line between the attachment P and the connection with the pawlK. By this arrangement of the spring 0 in its relation to the pawl thesaid' pawl is normally held with its engaging end in contact with therack E; but when the central portion of spring 0 is pressed against thebody of lever F the pawl K is rocked on its fulcrum and thus disengagedfrom the rack, when the leverF maybe rocked on its fulcrum D and thesteps G H or anything supported thereon thus raised or lowered. Thisspring mechanism controlling the pawl in its engagement with the ratchetis exceedingly simple and efficient, and as the spring is out of the wayunder the lever it is not likely to be operated accidentally.

I am aware that numerous forms of liftingjacks have been devised inwhich the weight is lifted by a lever and held up by ratchetand-pawlmechanism. Hence I make no broad claim to such a structure; but

I do claim improvement in the mechanism, as follows:

In a lifting-jack, the standard with circular head provided with aratchet at one side, the mortised lever pivoted to said head a pawlpivoted within said mortise in position to engage said rack, and theplate-spring connected at one end to the lever, and having a notch whichreceives the end of the pawl, all constructed and relatively arrangedsubstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN E. STEVENSON.

Witnesses:

W. H. TITUS, ROBERT BIRKENFIELD.

